DIY Superhero Baby Shower

I'm doing some catch-up postings and I really wanted to post this DIY project I did for a friend's Superheros baby shower theme. When the date and theme was settled, I jumped into google and searched through as many inspiration and DIY projects as they come to pull off a good Superheros-themed baby shower.


I made a simple superhero (modern chibi take) invite to give a flavor to the party theme and the sky was the limit on creativity for this. The tags were also fun to make!

I thought of initially decorating their nursery to help the newbie parents before their bundle of joy arrived but due to time and location constraints (the room was still not ready to be decorated by the time the party rolled in) so I chose decoration where they can be displayed at the party and can be easily put up at their home or used by their little one when he comes out in May.
The very first thing that came into my mind that would look great in their nursery is the initials of their baby boy - "J" and "N", a DIY comic book covered letters and took inspiration and instruction from Bird's Party Blog and Cherish Bliss. I wasn't able to get wooden letters or know where similar items were sold so I did it via styrofoam and cut out the letters then wrapped used/old comic books around it. It was tough to fully cover a styrofoam letter since the surface was not flat compared to a wooden or cardboard letter but it will have to do. I was able to do thicker lettering than the normal wooden one, which came out quite nice. :)
I then bought some picture frames that would have cute baby chibi superheroes in them. The stuffed toys plaster on the windows are from a local stuff toy vendor.

For the banner, I got the idea for the comics and bib & onesies banners at Thriftress and PampersPlaydatesParties. I was able to find/source old action figurines & kiddie toys at a thrift store and loot bags had the same superhero theme in it.

It was a definite labor of love to see the expressions on the new parent's faces when they saw the whole place. Happy partying!!!

Parties Galore for October

BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUTS!
This is continuation of the last entry since I was overly excited about the magazine launch. :) It was surely a busy week. There were so many birthday parties from start to finish aside from the magazine launch during the week.
I would like to send birthday wishes to the following people:
Oct 06 - to my brother, Jay; great treat - gotta love that Jap food!
Oct 10 - to my cousin, Jenilee; it was a rockin' party! Great food and great treats...check out the souvenier picture on the left. :D
Oct 11 - to my BFF, Tam; hope you were "surprised" with the work done by your hubby to celebrate your special day. :) Glad you liked your gift a lot!
Oct 19 - Happy Happy Birthday MOM!!!! I'm so proud to be your daughter! :)
Oct 23 - to my Cuz Ken, Happy Birthday and may you have tons and tons more birthdays to come! :) Great party!
Oct 24 - Happy Birthday, Sister Rhea! May you have many many more birthdays (and maybe babies) to come!
Wishing all of you a wonderful and great year ahead!

LANE CRAWFORD HOME
This is what I miss about Hong Kong...random invites to interesting shows, previews like this one. Did I tell you that I totally love the new Lane Crawford Home in Pacific Place? Well, I do love it to bits! Every square inch of the store is filled with wonderful and "my styled" furnitures, decors, amenities, etc! Ah...the Luxe Life indeed...
I love the contemporary theme of the place...tres chic!
It's also one of the places to get my fav tea brands, Mariage Freres, from France, which is the tea brand served at Agnes b Cafe and considered one of the best tea brands in the world.
I remember purchasing one of the unique woven pillow covers there too...still looking for the perfect couch to pair it. :P
Lane Crawford Home is an essential visit when you go to HK, especially Pacific Place. :)

SWONG: WISHING YOU WELL...TILL THE NEXT FOODSCAPE
My BBF pal, Swong, will be heading to DC next month to start a new chapter (a new life and job). I'm so going to miss her. She's my big sister in HK when I was there all alone so I'll surely feel very lost whenever I go to HK since we had so many cool excursions - Stanley, Discovery Bay, Repulse Bay, Tai Tam, Cybermall, Happy Valley, etc.
Although it would be a nice thing to visit her in DC when the time comes... :D

Etsy.com Feature
It's been awhile since I checked out Etsy but I'm glad I did today. I haven't seen the latest season of Project Runway (Season 4) but it was exciting to find out who won, because Etsy wrote an article featuring Etsy items that represent the new winner. So cool! I feel the "eco-beauty" of the creative sellers of the site. :D
**Warning- the article is a big spoiler…so unless you still want to keep Project Runway 4's winner a secret, I suggest you cover your eyes and just check out the sample photos below. :D
Ode to Project Runway's Contestant
My favorites are the following

(1) Micro Tile Hydrangea
(2) Aqua-licious scallop dish
(3) Custom Order, Medium Coffee/Cocktail Table

Do you see a pattern? I sure love my circles and curves. :)

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Title: Aiden & The Ice Cream
Kit: Cafe Mia by Shabby Scrap Designs (Deanna Patterson) Font: CK Becky
Photo Credit: Vivian Chung Photography

Back Again

It's great to be back...though I'm catching up with work again since it's audit season and this time, I'm doing it solo. I can't wait to get this audit season over! I miss my partner. :(

Ed and I LOVED our trip; in that, we did not want it to end!
Trip stories, highlights, photos will have to wait though since Ed has to burn it into a cd for uploading. We accummulated around 3,000+ pictures! I kept taking left and right since there was just so many places and sights to see. 12 days is definitely not enough for the ports we visited.
All I can say is that I enjoyed Barcelona, Livorno/Florence/Pisa and Istanbul/Kusadasi. The cruise was absolutely convenient and wonderful!

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Some new music news...
I'm all excited about DIDO's upcoming album called "Safe Trip Home". It's a brand new CD with all new songs. After a five year hiatus, it's wonderful to be listening to a follow-up to "Life For Rent". The site has provided a lot of interviews, samples of the songs like Look No Further but I'm so loving Don't Believe in Love. The local radio stations are giving the latter song a whirl and it's been featured on the latest tv show, 90210. Not bad for a CD still yet to be released.
Tracklisting:
1. don't believe in love
2. quiet times
3. never want to say it's love
4. grafton street
5. it comes and it goes
6. look no further
7. us 2 little gods
8. the day before the day
9. let's do the things we normally do
10. burnin love
11. northern skies
Another songstress coming up with some new material is Sarah McLachlan, who's is preparing for a "best of" album, titled "Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan", that will include 14 handpicked songs and 2 new songs written by her exclusively - U Want Me 2 and Don't Give Up On Us. Currently, one of the songs can be heard her on her MySpace website below for, U Want Me 2. As per her site - "The collection documents Sarah's spectacular career as a multi-platinum singer/songwriter, with a tracklist that journeys through hit songs, commercial breakouts, and fan favorites."
All the songs are great...lots of great choices. Too bad that Trainwreck wasn't included.
Tracklist:
1. vox
2. the path of thorns (terms)
3. into the fire
4. possession
5. hold on
6. good enough
7. building a mystery
8. sweet surrender
9. adia
10. angel
11. i will remember you
12. fallen
13. stupid
14. world on fire
15. don't give up on us - new song
16. u want me 2 -new song (Listen In)

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Got some Wedding News too...
I've been there and back but old habits really do die hard.
Like any bridal magazine whore in the past, I'm quite surprised and intrigued to have learned that there's a new Martha Stewart Weddings PHILIPPINES!!!!
I had to search around about this magazine since it's supposedly a rare one. It's not readily available in the market yet though I was able to find it at the Bufini magazine store in Glorietta 4 at P295 per copy. A really reduced price of P500 or so for the US edition as what I bought in the past.
(FYI: I bought every single one that came out from the day I got engaged in Hong Kong to a month or two before the nuptials. A real die-hard MS fan.)
As per press release, Summit Media, the local publishing house that brought Town&Country Philippnies has brought in Martha Stewart Weddings to the Philippines. Merging Martha Stewart brand's signature creativity and style, Martha Steward Weddings Philippines will take the best of the American edition and tailor it with ideas and inspiration developed especially for the Filipina bride.
As I surf the web for more information, I found a fellow blogger who was very fortunate to be invited to the magazine launch who shared photos and information, Candifier : Martha Steward Weddings Philippines Launch to the whole blogsphere. Thanks, Candifier, wherever you are!

Speaking of MS, I bumped into the Bridal Blog of Martha Stewart Weddings' Editors, which I found wonderful and orgazined per topic. Very useful, if you ask me.

On some WeddingsAtWork sisterly news, congrats to STEPH & JOEL, who got married last weekend at Tagaytay. Welcome to the married groupie, Sis Steph!

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I have some surprise to my friends and bloggers...coming soon...some published works.

This year's annual Dutdutan 2008 - Tattoo Convention came and went in a flash. It was held at A.Venue Events Hall in Makati. Please check the link for more details.
I remember the time that I went to my first ink convention. It was at Roseland, NYC ...directly across where my brother used to live. I was in NYC for the spring time with my mom visiting my brother. I wanted to go check it out and my mom was okay. She went home, just across the street, while I went in. It was totally a interesting sight. Totally interesting people from all over the place - US, Japan, Australia, etc. I got a tshirt out of it that I absolutely love! That was around May 1998, I think...I just know that I wasn't finished with my degree yet.

Fast Track Updates

Sorry for the long absence...still catching up with life and work.
It's audit season, you know! :P

This is one of the cool sights I've seen a while back. I enjoy the good old Havaianas like a lot of Flips here though I don't wear mine as often as the rest since I do want to look a bit more semi-casual than beachy casual. The slippers are so popular in the tropics like the Philippines since we have tons and tons of beaches to choose from and we basically love being in the sun!
This was taken at Serendra, Fort where there were gigantic displays of the famous slippers with various themes.
I'm guessing this pays homage to soccer. The slipper company is a huge fan of the sport - maybe because it's made in Brazil...or @least most of them where conceptualized there. :P

In celebration of the movie, Speedracer, Rockwell's Power Plant was one of the places that this "star" gave light to the movie. I never would have thought this car ever existed in this lifetime aside from what's in the movie.
Although it didn't fair well in the box office, it was pretty cool to be able to touch and to be this close to the star of the show. Too bad E was at work when I took this photo. It was my bragging rights picture! :P
Go Speedracer go!

Travel Café Philippines
2/F GB5
Rating: 2/5
E & I checked out the new café at GB5 on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We shared this dessert sampler which showcased the typical Filipino native sweets. There was the leche flan (Filipino custard), suman (sticky rice cooked in coconut milk), banana turrón (deep fried banana wrapped in spring roll skin) and some fresh fruits on the side. It looked so impressive and nice in photos but the only winner for us were the banana turrón. Would we go back again...most likely not.

Restaurante Pia y Damaso
2/F GB5
Rating: 3/5
One of our food trippings again at GB5 on another Sunday afternoon for snacks.
The chocolate was cool since carabao's milk was used so it smelled heavenly and so rich. E was a really happy camper with this unique detail.
I had the "boring" hot peppermint tea. :P We share a toasted local pastry - ensaymada (Filipino sweet bread).

Cuillère
G/F Serendra
Rating: 2/5
One of the highlights at this resto. My mom was so looking forward to some good French food in Manila - this comparing it with Le Souffle. Sad to report that she was disappointed with the results. The cool thing was the soup and the rest was so-so to her. It's quite pricey but as long as the food is superb, we will keep coming back for more. E and I still have to go back to try the lamb platter so we'll keep the rating as it is for now.

CAV
Lot 5, Quadrant 8, Bonifacio High Street
Rating: 4/5
Love the set menus offered that you can personalize - either a three or four course option. The one photographed is my dessert, Baked Alaska. Very fatty but not bad.
The feature of this resto is the very cool wine dispensers wherein guests can try various win by the glass on their own - similar to the soft drink dispensers but a lot more sophisticated. We weren't able to have wine on our trip there but I can see that it's a really hip and happening place that requires you either to make reservations or go early to secure a nice table. A lot of beautiful people make up this joint. Get ready to be pretty and to spend a bit.

Look who visited me in Manila...of all people! It's R and his family!!! What a blast from my YVR past and in "my turf"!
Though of course I was pretty surprised when I got an FB message that he would be coming. It was totally a crazy surprise since I didn't think he would be heading to Asia in general since he was wrapping med school.
R and his parents came to Manila to play some golf with their friends. His folks are basically retired, mom's semi while dad's fully retired. They stay in HKG almost half of the year now since they have some business in China and are looking into moving back to be closer with their HKG relatives. I think if this pushes through, I will have the possibility of seeing R more than before. The last time we hung out was my YVR time in 2004! It was pretty cool to let E meet some of my YVR friends.
I showed R some sights and food trips around town the day after he arrived while the rest of the time was a lot of golfing trips for him and his folks. :D
We went around ChinaTown, Chinese Cemetary, Fort Santiago, Old Manila, Rockwell, Alabang Town Center, etc. I hope his folks enjoyed their golf game and come back again soon!

This is our new family member (MIL's), Creamy. He's far bigger and got groomed to shorter do now than in the picture. He has been a real handfull since he refused to be housetrained and has been driving everyone nuts! He's pee'd and poo'd whenever and wherever he wants. There were times that my E and I babysit him and it would mean guarding this little one's every move around the house, especially our room! :P
Plus I changed my hairstyle a few weeks after this picture has been taken.
Been so busy these days due to the new work and just getting the house orgazined.


This is one of purchases that E and I got for the house. We got this during the Megamall 3-day Mega Sale at My Home.
It's pretty cool with it being expandable on both sides - the white portion is the "extended" part while collapsing it would reveal only the glass portion that is nice for dinners for 2. Anything more would require extendingthe table so as not to look so cramp.
I love the "modern contemporary" look of this. Form and functions are my criteria in searching for the right furniture...oh, and aside from the dimensions. E was super excited when I discovered this through my furniture research.
Thanks Dey!

Okay - next would be the sofa/living room - I'm off to get this rolling...